Three Extra Stops in Italy and Switzerland: Florence at Sunset, Colorful Burano and the Lauterbrunnen Valley

Photos in this guide are AI-generated images of fictional POPORO CITY characters, made to illustrate the places; they are not real travel photos. Opening hours, prices and transport details change, so please check official sources before you go.

A classic Italy and Switzerland route moves quickly between big cities and mountain stations. Our Italy and Switzerland travel guide lays out the main itinerary. This spin-off adds three stops that are easy to fit in and give the trip some breathing space: the sunset view over Florence, a half day on the island of Burano near Venice, and a day in the Lauterbrunnen valley below the Jungfrau.

1. Piazzale Michelangelo, Florence

What it is: Piazzale Michelangelo is a large terrace on the hill south of the Arno, laid out in the nineteenth century as a viewpoint over the city. From its balustrade you see the whole historic center at once: the Duomo's red dome, Giotto's bell tower, Palazzo Vecchio and the bridges over the river, with the Tuscan hills behind. A bronze copy of Michelangelo's David stands in the middle of the square.

Getting there: the most pleasant way is on foot: cross the Arno, walk through the San Niccolò neighborhood and climb the garden ramps and steps, around 20 to 30 minutes from the Ponte Vecchio. City buses also stop at the square if you prefer not to climb.

Best time: sunset, when the city turns gold and pink. Arrive early to get a spot at the rail; in late autumn the sun sets in the late afternoon, so plan your museum visits around it.

Tips: for a quieter view, continue uphill a few minutes to the church of San Miniato al Monte, one of the finest Romanesque churches in Tuscany, whose steps look over the same skyline. Bring a light jacket for after sunset, and keep an eye on your bag in the crowd.

2. Burano, the island of painted houses

What it is: Burano is a small island in the northern Venetian lagoon, famous for its brightly painted fishermen's houses lining narrow canals and for its long tradition of handmade lace. It feels like a village: laundry hangs between windows, boats are moored outside front doors, and the leaning bell tower of the church of San Martino rises above the roofs.

Getting there: water buses (vaporetto) run from the Fondamente Nove stop in Venice to Burano in roughly 40 to 45 minutes, and many visitors stop at Murano, the glass island, on the way. Check the current lines and timetable on the official Venice transport site, and consider a multi-day public transport pass if you will use several boats.

Best time: morning or late afternoon, when the light is warm on the colored walls and day-trip crowds are thinner. Late autumn is quiet, though fog on the lagoon can slow boats.

Tips: the island is small, so two to three hours is enough to walk around, visit the lace museum and have lunch; fish risotto is the local specialty. Remember that people live in these houses: stay on public paths and keep voices low. Venice charges an access fee to day visitors on certain dates; check the city's official site for the current rules.

3. The Lauterbrunnen valley

What it is: Lauterbrunnen is a deep glacial valley in the Bernese Oberland with sheer rock walls on both sides and dozens of waterfalls pouring down them. The best known, Staubbach Falls, drops almost 300 meters right beside the village. The valley is also the gateway to the car-free mountain villages of Wengen and Mürren and to the trains toward the Jungfraujoch.

Getting there: trains from Interlaken Ost reach Lauterbrunnen in about 20 minutes. From there, a cable car and train combination climbs to Mürren, and the cogwheel railway climbs to Wengen and Kleine Scheidegg. With a Swiss Travel Pass many of these connections are covered or discounted; see our Swiss Travel Pass guide for what it includes.

Best time: the waterfalls are strongest from late spring into summer when the snow melts. In early winter the valley is quiet and the cliffs are dusted with snow, but some attractions, such as the Trümmelbach Falls inside the mountain, close for the cold season; check opening dates before you go.

Tips: the flat valley walk from Lauterbrunnen toward Stechelberg is easy and passes several falls. Weather changes fast in the mountains, so check the live webcams before going up to Mürren or the Jungfrau region, and dress in layers. Swiss prices are high; supermarkets in the valley are a good place to buy picnic food.

Putting it together

• Florence: museums by day, Piazzale Michelangelo and San Miniato at sunset.
• Venice: a morning in the city, an afternoon boat to Murano and Burano.
• Switzerland: one extra day based in Interlaken or Lauterbrunnen for the valley and Mürren, on top of the Jungfraujoch day.
• Transport: train connections from Milan into Switzerland are frequent; book Italian high-speed trains in advance for the best fares.

Our fictional POPORO CITY characters show the mood of each stop: Ceno, an event-planner character, leaning on the balustrade as the Duomo glows; Juno strolling past Burano's colored walls; and Cota, a photographer character, framing the waterfall valley. For Rome and the full route, go back to the main Italy and Switzerland guide.

More travel planning: POPORO BLOG. Our characters also share Korean-language trip notes on the KPOPORO Naver blog.